Br3.5bn earmarked for family benefits in Belarus in 2023

MINSK, 12 May (BelTA) – The government has allocated Br3.5 billion on state benefits for families with children this year, Belarusian Deputy Labor and Social Security Minister Valery Kovalkov told the media, BelTA has learned.

"State budget expenditures on social security measures for families with children annually amount to over 3% of GDP. This year Br3.5 billion has been designated for state benefits, of which Br2 billion are benefits for children under the age of three," Valery Kovalkov said.

Almost 400,000 children (every fourth child in the country) receive benefit payments, of which 220,000 are children under three years old. The size of the benefits is large, the deputy minister emphasized.

Thus, the one-time allowance for the birth of the first child is more than Br3,500, that for the birth of the second and subsequent children - almost Br5,000. The monthly allowance for a child under three is Br606. If a family has the second and subsequent children the allowance is increased toBr690.

If a family needs additional support, they can apply for free food for children under two, a monthly social allowance for the purchase of food, medicines, clothes, shoes, etc. More than Br130 million was earmarked for these purposes in 2023.

Social security system also includes the family capital program covering the birth of the third and subsequent children, targeted social assistance and social services, and a number of guarantees in the field of labor, pensions, housing and credit relations and other areas of life.

Valery Kovalkov stressed that supporting families with children is a national priority. According to the Constitution of Belarus, marriage, family, motherhood, fatherhood and childhood are under the protection of the state.

Belarus will celebrate Family Day on 15 May.